Manure-spreader.



E. PALM.

MANURE SPREADER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1009.

947,453, Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES [N I 'LNTOR WM/M g &3 j M44444 Allomqv E. PALM.

MANUEL SPREADER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1609. 947,453. Patented Jan 25, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W T NISSSZLS' [NI '[SNTOR ai f Auorn y E. PALM.

MANURE SPREADER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1009.

947,453 Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

4 SHEETS-RESET 3.

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I l m I WITNESSES IS E NTOR homikkjhka I JAM W E. PALM. MANURB SPREADER. PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP 9.

. 947 453 Patented Jan. 25, 1910 4 EEEEEEEEEEEE 4.

S E Wm "H i0 {q m MI I *I WITNESSES lmzwrok ERIK PALM, OF ELDRED, MINNESOTA.

MANURE-SPREADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

Application filed July 20, 1909. Serial No. 508,570.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERIK PALM, citizen of the United States, residing at Eldred,

Y in the county of Polk and State of .Minne ative to the running gear and the box of an ordinary farm wagon, and used to advantage in combination therewith.

Anotherobject is the provision in a manure spreader, of an improved endless apron for moving manure rearwardly in the box.

Another object is the provision of improved means for transmitting motion to the said endless apron.

With the foregoing inview, the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improvements on the running gear of an ordinary farm wagon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, broken side elevation with all of the running gear omitted except a portion of'one rear wheel. Fig. 2 is a detail section illustrative of the manner in which the pinions D are clutched upon the trunnions B of the toothed cylinder C. Fig. 3 is a detail broken plan view. Fig. 4 is a broken, longitudinal vertical section showing the arrangement of the endless apron relative to the cylinder and to the bottom of the box and the base frame of the latter. Fig. 5 is a broken side elevation showing the box, its

. base frame, one of the front supports,'onc of the rear supports, one of the fenders, and a portion of one of the metallic braces of my improvements, together with the rear bolster and axle of a wagon running gear. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing one of the metallic braces a 86.

Similar otters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.-

The running gear of the wagon employed inconnection with my improved apparatus, including the rear bolster and the front bolster, is preferably of the well-known, conventional construction; and in pursuance of my invention large sprocket gears A are fixed on the rear ground wheels .13 of the running gear, it being contemplated to supply the said with the remainder of the manure-spreading apparatus, and to clip, at a a, or otherwise connect the sprocket gears A to the spokes of the wheels B in such manner that skilled labor is not required. I also contemplate supplying the wagon box I) with the remainder of the apparatus; the said box being open at its rear end, and having a front end wall or board 7) designed to be maintained in a position slightly raised from the bottom of the box, as shown, when the spreading apparatus is to be operated. I would also have it understood that I prefer to equip the box;

D with a drivers seat E, havm end up rights 0, designed to rest on the si e walls of the box D, and straps d fixed to said ,uprights and adapted to lap the side walls of the box, and also having arms (1, of metal fixed to and extending downwardly and then forwardly from the outer sides of the said uprights c. The said arms 6 are pivoted on a horizontal rod f extendnig across the body D, in front of the wall 7), and hence when the box I) is to be loaded with manure, the seat E may be swung forwardly and downwardly to a position in front of the ,wall 6, and then, after the loading is completed, the seat may be swung back to the position shown where its uprights c rest on and are supported by the side walls of box D.

My invention further contemplates providing the box I) with a base frame, arranged under the box and fixedly connected thereto by straps F or other suitable means. The said frame comprises spaced rear portions r extending laterally outward beyond the vertical plane of each side wall of the box, a front portion h extending laterally outavard beyond the vertical plane of each side wall of the box,,longitudinal, spaced bars 2' arranged under said ortions g and h, and cross-bars 7' arranged below the bars 2' and separated by an intervenin space as shown. Each of the lon itudinzil bars 2' is provided on its under sid e with a brace G,

gears A and sprocket belts C.

preferably of metal, designed to bear against the wagon when the manure spreading meehanism is in operation.

It'will be readily understood from the foregoing that thebox D and its base frame may be placed on-gand removed from the running gear :of' an ordinary farm wagon with great facility and without entailing change in the construction of the running .gear or the employment-of skilled labor. Itv will also be understood that when the box -D and its base frame are placed on the runninggear of a farm wagon, adequatespace will be afforded between a the longitudinal bars i for the travel of the lower stretch of the endless apron comprised in the manurespreading mechanism hereinafter described.

I have laid particular stress upon the extension of the base-frame portions 9 and h laterally outward beyond the side walls of I the box B, because said base-frame portions I box constitute important features of my invention. This will befully appreciated when it I is stated that the'rear portion of the manure spreading mechanism is carried by two metallic supports H, resting on the frame portions 9, at opposite sides of the body D, and each connected by two or three bolts 70 to portions g, and the front portion of said manure-spreading mechanism is carried by two metallic supports I, resting on the frame portions h and each connected by a single olt Z to the adjacent portion h, and when it is also stated that the endless apron J of the manure-spreading mechanism is adapted to be 0 ened to permit of its removal from the l). Thus when the apron J is opened by disconnecting meeting ends thereof, the apron may be separated fromthe box D, and then by simply removing the four or six short bolts 7c and the two short bolts 1, the supports H and I and the mechanism or manure spreading parts carried thereby are disconnected from the box D and the baseframe thereof, and may be lifted off, leaving the said box and basc-frame'free to be used after the manner of an ordinary wagon box and the base-frame thereof, at which time the base-frame will serve merely to support the box and to hold the same against endwise 1 and 2. One of the said cranlrs namely, the one at the right-hand side of the apparatus, is preferably formed integral with a hand lever M, and connected to and extend-. a

ing rearwardly from both cranks L are endwise movable rods N, the oflice of which will the parts will rest in a deadcenter, andv consequently the rods Ncannot move rear wardly until the cranks L are swung,

.through the medium of the lever M and the shaft K. upwardly from said position. Loosely connected to and pendent from the transverse shaft K are hangers I. each of which is provided with a lateral lug p, and JOIIII'lHltZtl in the said hangers l is a transverse shaft Q, bearing sprocket wheels R around which pass the belts n of the end le'ss apron J. The lugs p on hangers l are for the engagement of longitudinally disposed screws h, bearing in lugs r on the metallic supports I, and hence it will be manifest that the apron J may be conveniently kept taut; also, that when the screws S are mdved rearwardly to allow-the hangers P to swing in the same direction, the apron J is slackened, and its meeting ends may then be disconnected, for the purpose before stated.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, each of the metallic supports H is provided with a stub shaft 8, an approximately horizontal guideway t,-open at its rear end, anda journal bearing a, the latter disposed about the dlstance shown below the shaft 8. It will also be observed that bolted or otherwise fixed to each metallic support H is a bracket T whie extends upwardly from the support. Fixedly connected to the brackets 'l are fenders U, preferably of wood, which rest at the outer sides of, the side walls of the box D and extend rearwardly therefrom, and have straps o on their inner sides, Fig. 1 designed to lap the side walls of the box D and hold the fenders thereagainst. The said brackets '1 also serve to support the rake U which preferably comprises a cross-bar '10,.

and teeth extending downwardly and rear- V, and being each designml to be connected through oneof the sprocket belts U with the adyacent sprocket gear A, so that each sprocket gear V is rotated from the ground wheel B at that side of the spreader. For the purpose of maintaining the-belts G in a taut state, idler pulleys X adjustably connected with the base-frame of the box D are provided.

Journaled in the bearings 21. of the metallic supports H is a transverse shaft Y, upon vwhich are sprocket gears 11 around which pass the belts a ofthe apron J. At one end the shaft Y has fixed thereon a ratchet Z, Fl 2., for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

'lidable fore and aft in the guideways t of the metallic supports H are bearing boxes 'A, and journaled in the said boxes and movable fore and aft therewith are the trunnions B of the toothed cylinder C, which latter is disposed between the fehders U. D D are pinions clutched on the trunnions B, and designed when the boxes A are retained in their foremost positions, to intermesh with the spur gears W, so as to assure rotation of the cylinder C in the direction indicated by arrow. The boxes A are retained in their foremost position by the means before described and comprising the rods N, and this against the action of springs E arranged in front of the boxes A and interposed between said boxes and suitable parts of the supports H. The said springs E serve, when the cranks L are moved out of the dead center before referred to, to press the boxes A rearwardly, whereupon the pi'nions D will be moved out of engage- .mentwith the spur gearsW, and the cylinder C will be rendered idle. When, however, the hand lever M is manipulated to draw the boxes A forwardly, the pinionsI) tate while the pinion thereon is at rest or is rotating slower than the trunnions and the cylinder C. Thus when the apparatus is being turned, the parts are not subjected to strain because of the-fact that the inner of the wheels B does not rotate as fast as the outer of said wheels.

The pinions I) may be clutched on the trunnions B as stated, in any manner consonant with the purpose thereof. For instance each disk F may be provided with an interior annulus having ratchet teeth a disposed as shown in Fig. 2 and each pinion D may be provided with a spr1ngbacked pawl 6 adapted to engage one of the teeth a and thereby rotate the disk F 1n the direction of the arrow thereon. When, how- .ever,' the pinion is at rest or is rotating in the direction indicated independently of the pinion and the pawl thereon.

For the purpose of transmittinga step by stop motion from one of the disks F to the transverse shaft Y. I provide the said disk with a crank pin G, Fig. 2, and I also provide the mechanism best shown in Fig. 2. The said mechanism coi'nprises a detent' H, backed by a spring I and adapted to prevent retrograde-movement of the ratchet Z, a vertically swinging lever J loosely mounted on the shaft 1 or otherwise pivotallyconnected with the adjacent su port H and having a slot (1, spring-backer pawls b and c, pivoted to the lever J and positioned to engage the ratchet: the pawl 5 being smaller than the pawl c in about the proportion shown, and a pitman K interposed between the crank pin G and the lever J "and connected to the latter by a bolt adjustably fixed in the slot A so that the movements of the lever J by the pitman may be regulated as occasion demands. the ratchet Z are preferably made large for the sake of strength and durability, and the pawls 7) and 0 are preferably arranged so that they alternate in engaging the ratcheti. (1., first one and then the other of the pawls engage teeth of the ratchet to rotate the latter. Because of this arrangement it will be understood that notwithstandin the large size of the ratchet teeth there wil belittle or no lost motion incidental to downward movements of the lever J inasmuch as one or the other of the pawls is always in )osition to transmit motion from the lever to the ratchet Z.

It will be manifest from the foregoing that. synchronously with the rotatioii of the toothed cylinder C. the shaft Y will be turned step by stepto move the upper stretch of the apron J rearwardly above the bottom of the box D and enable the novel followers m of the apron to move the manure in said box to the cylinder (JG-by which the manure will be scattered broadcast. it will also be manifest that by adjusting the pitman K relative to the lever J- the length of each rearward movement of the upper stretch of the apron J may be increased or diminished in the discretion of the party operating, the machine.

In the practical operation of my invention, the box I) is loaded with manure, and the spreader is driven to the point at which the spreading of the manure is to be started; the cylinder G being then in its rear and idle posit-ion. \Vhen the said point is reached, the driver without stopping his team manipulates the lever M to put the cylinder C and the means for moving the manure rearwardly in operation, whereupon The teeth of.

the manure willbe efliciently spread broadcast until the lever M is released or until the load of manure in the box D is exhausted.

The construction herein illustrated and described constitutes the best practical embodiment of my invention that I have as yet nected with the box and having portions extendipg laterally outward beyond the side walls of the box, ad acent the rear and forward ends thereof, and also having longitudinal spaced bars arranged under the said 3 portions, rear supports arranged at the outer sides of the-side walls of the box and disposed on and detachably connected to the rear laterally-extended portions of the base frame, front supports arranged at the outer sides of the side walls of the box and disposed on and detachably connected to the forward laterally-extended portions of the base frame. a toothed cylinder carried by the rear supports,'a transverse shaft carried by the rear supports and disposed in rear of the box, a transverse shaft carried by the front supports and disposed in front of the box, an endless apron, adapted to be opened, mounted on Said shafts and having one of its stretches disposed above the bottom of the box and its other stretch disposed below said bottom and between the longitudinal bars of the base frame, and a drive connee tion carried by one of'the rear supports and adapted to transmit motion from the toothed cylinder to the rear apron shaft.

Ina manure spreader, the combination of a box open at its rear end and having a front end wall adapted to be maintained in a raised position, a base frame fixedly connected with the box and having portions'extending laterally out-ward beyond the side walls of the box, adjacent the rear and forward ends thereof, and also having longitudinal spaced bars arranged under the said portions, rear supports arranged at the outer sides of the side walls of the box and disposed on and detachably connected to the rear laterally-extended portions ofthebase frame, front supports arranged at-the outer sides of the side walls of the box and disposed on and detachably connected to the forward laterally-extended portions of the base fran' e, a toothed cylinder carried by the rear supports, a transverse shaft carried by the rearsupports and disposed in rear of the box, a transverse shaft carried by the front supports and disposed in front of the box, an endless apron, adapted to be opened, mounted' on said shafts and havingone'of its stretches "disposed above the bottom of the box and its other stretch disposed below,

taehably holding them to the side walls of the box, and a rake disposed above the toothed cylinder and carried by the said brackets. o

In a manure spreader, the combination of a box open at its rear end and having a front end wall adapted to be maintained in a raised position. a base frame fixedly connected with the box and having portions extending laterally outward beyondthe side walls of the box, adjacent the rear and forward ends thereof. and also having longi tudinal spaced bars arranged under the said portions, rear supports arranged at the outer sides of the side walls of the box and dis- 'posed on and detachably connected to the rear laterally-extended portions of the base frame, front supports arranged at the outer sides of the side walls of the box and disposed on and detachablyconnected to the stretches disposed above the bottom of the box and its other stretch disposed below said bottom and between the longitudinal bars of the base frame. and a drive connection carried by one of the rear supports and adapted to transmit motion from the toothedvcylinder to the rear apron shaft. v

4. In .a manure spreader, the combination of a box open at its rear end and having a forward end wall adapted to be maintained in a raised position, a base frame fixedly vconnected with the box and having portions extending laterally outward beyond the side walls of the box near the ends thereof and also having spaced portions adapted to bear on a running gear and between which is a longitudinal passage for the lower stretch of an endless apron, rear supports carried by the. rear laterally-extended portions of the base frame and arranged outside the box,

front supports carried by the forward laterally extending portions of the base frame and also arranged outside the box, a toothed cylinder carried by the I rear supports, a transverse shaft carried by the rear supports and disposed in rear of the box, ,a

transverse shaft'carried' by the front supports and disposed in front of the box, the said endless apron mounted on said shafts and having one of its. stretches disposed above 'the ttom of the box and its other stretch disposed below said bottom and in the aforesaid passage, anda drive connection carried by one of the rear supports and adapted to transmit motion from the toothed cylinder to the rear apron shaft.

The combination in a manure spreader, of supporting means, spur gears mounted on sai'l' supportlng means, means for rotating said spur gears, springipressed bearin in rear of t e'spur gears an yieldingly held against movement toward the same, a toothed cylinder journaled in said bearing means and having pinions adapted, in the forward position of the bearing means, to engage the said spur gears, and means for movin the bearing means forward and holding t 1e same against rearward movement.

6. The combination in a manure spreader,

-of sulpportin means having side portions and ongitu inal guideways therein, spur gears mounted on said side portions of the supporting means, means for rotating said spur gears, bearings movable fore and aft in said guldeways, a toothed cylinder journaled in said bearings and having pinions adapted to engage the said spur gears, springs interposed between the forward sides of the bearings and said side portions of the supporting means and adapted to press the bearings rearwardly, and means for moving the bearings forwardly and holding the same against rearward movement.

7. The combination in a manure spreader,

of supporting means having side portions 'and longitudlnal guideways therein, spur gears mounted on said side portions of-the supporting means,,means for rotating said spur ears, bearings movable fore and aft vin sai guideways, a toothed cylinder journaled in, said bearings and having pinions adapted to engage the said spur gears,,

springs interposed between the forward sides of the bearings and said side'p'ortions of the supporting means and adapted to press the bearings rearwardly, a transverse shaft journaled 1n the forward portion of the supporting means and having a lever and also having cranks, longitudinal rods connected at \their rear ends with the said bearings and havin their forward ends connectedto said eran s and adapted, when the bearings are in their-foremost position, to rest in front of nd in line with the center of movement of t \IG cranks.

8. The combination in a manure spreader,

of supportin means having side portions and longitu inal gu deways therein, spur gears mounted on said side portions of the supporting means, means for rotating said spur gears, bearings movable fore and aft in said guideways, a tooth cylinder journaled in said bearings, pinions clutched to the journals of the toothed cylinder and adapted to enga e the said 5 ur gears, springs interpose between the orwardsi'des of the bearings and said side portions 0 the supporting means and adapted to pr the bearings rearwardly, and means for mo ing the bearings forwardly and holding the same against rearward movement.

9. The combination in a manure spreader, of supporting means, a shaft therein and adapted to transmit otion to an endless apron, a spur gear mo ted on said supportlng means, means for i tating said spur gear, fore and aft movablg bearing means carried by said-supporting\neans and adapted when released to move rearwardly relative to said spur gear, a toothed cylinder journaled in said bearing m ans and having a pinion, and means'mov qe fore and aft with the said bearing 'means a1 (1 adapted to transmit motion from the toothed cylinder to the transverse shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- Jenn E. ELG.

'ournaled. 

